Cornyn denounces U.S. contract with Syrian arms provider

Sen. John Cornyn spoke out today against the U.S. purchasing military helicopters from the same Russian company providing arms to Syria’s army during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on the situation in Syria.

Cornyn questioned Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Martin Dempsey on the U.S.’s involvement with the Russian company, Rosoboronexport, that is providing arms to Syria’s regime.

“If this report is true … that causes me significant concerns. And I bet it does you, too,” Cornyn said at the hearing.

Although neither Dempsey nor Panetta confirmed that Rosoboronexport was the company that has sold the Afghan Army military helicopters, a summary of contracts from the U.S. Department of Defense shows that Rosoboronexport was awarded a contract of $375 million last May.

“Sen. Cornyn hit the nail on the head today,” said Sadia Hameed, director of Human Rights First’s Crimes Against Humanity Program. “It makes absolutely no sense for the U.S. to continue doing business with companies that are so clearly enabling atrocities. It’s hard for the U.S. to have credibility in pushing for a cease fire in Syria when it’s buying arms from the same company supplying those carrying out the ongoing atrocities there.”